Pouch construction



April 18, 1967 w. E. HEELEY POUCH CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Feb. 16, 1966 Q m s 4 m m 0H N C WW T1 J A L H G m F W G F April 18, 1967 w. E. CHEELEY $314,591

POUCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. I2 L164 INVENTOR WILLIAM E. CHEELEY HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,314,591 POUCH CONSTRUCTION William E. Cheeley, Bon Air, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,864 8 Claims. (Cl. 22953) This invention relates to an improved product containing pouch construction as well as to an improved method and apparatus for making such a pouch construction or the like.

It is well known that product containing pouch constructions have been formed from sheets of material, each being suitably folded into the desired configuration and substantially hermetically sealed closed at the seams thereof by activating a heat sealing layer forming the inside surface of the particular sheet of material. For example, before the final seam is heat sealed closed, the desired product means is placed in the thus formed tubular pouch construction and, thereafter, completely sealed therein.

Such pouch constructions, while having many uses, have been utilized to package frozen foods and their butter sauce or the like so that the ultimate consumer can cook such food products by merely placing the pouch construction in a pan of boiling water whereby, after the food has been cooked therein, the ultimate consumer cuts open the pouch construction to dispense the cooked food therefrom.

However, it has been found that when forming such pouch constructions the longitudinal seam of the pouch construction is usually the first seam heat sealed whereby the longitudinal seam extends between the opposed opened ends of the pouch construction. Subsequently, when the end seams are sealed closed, it has been found, according to the teachings of this invention, that the amount of heat sealing material remaining at the overlapping portions of the end seams and the longitudinal seam is not suflicient to provide an adequate hermetic seal for the pouch construction.

Thus, in the past, the sheet of material means normally forming such pouch constructions required a relatively thick layer of heat sealable material on the inside thereof to provide suflicient heat sealable material in the final formation of the pouch construction whereby a relatively large amount of heat sealable material is wasted in the areas of the non-sealable portions thereof.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, the pouch construction is so constructed and arranged that additional heat sealable material is provided in only the required heat sealable areas to permit the pouch construction to be effectively heat sealed closed without requiring an extra thick heat sealing layer over the entire inner surface of the pouch construction.

Further, this invention provides a method and apparatus forming the pouch constructions of this invention in a rapid and continuous manner while having all of the advantages of the prior art pouch constructions without the above-mentioned disadvantages thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved pouch construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a pouch construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making such a pouch construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention "ice are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved pouch construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the improved method and apparatus of this invention for forming the pouch construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4-6 are views similar to FIGURE 3 and are respectively taken on lines 4-4, 55 and 66 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating another pouch construction of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the method and apparatus of this invention for forming the pouch construction of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken On line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURES l1 and 12 are views similar to FIGURE 10 and are taken on lines 11-11 and 1212 of FIGURE 9.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable to provide 'a pouch construction for packaging food products, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide pouch constructions for other uses as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved pouch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a sheet of material 11 suitably formed in a manner hereinafter described to define a product containing chamber 12 therein which is sealed closed from the exterior of the pouch construction 10 by a longitudinal seam 13 and a pair of end seams 14 in a manner hereinafter described.

The method and apparatus of this invention for continuously forming the pouch constructions 10 of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 15 in FIGURE 2 and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, a strip 16 of suitable material means is adapted to be drawn from a supply roll 17 thereof and be formed around a forming mandrel 18 with the opposed edge means 19 and 20 of the strip 16 disposed in overlapping relation to define a tubular structure 21 being continuously moved beyond the end 22 of the forming mandrel 18 by suitable feed means, such as feed rollers 23. As the feed rollers 23 draw the strip of material 16 onto the mandrel 18, suitable plow means 24 or the like form the strip 16 around the mandrel 18 while other plow means 25 fold the edge means 19 of the strip 16 back upon itself before the same is overlapped by the other edge means 20 for a purpose hereinafter described.

While the strip 16 of material means can comprise any suitable material, it is necessary that the inner surface thereof include a heat sealable layer in order to effectively form the seams 13 and 14 previously described.

For example, the embodiment of the strip -16 of material illustrated in the drawings comprises a sheet of metallic foil 26, such as aluminum containing metallic foil or the like, having a layer of heat sealable nylon 27 or the like secured to the inner surface 28 thereof and a protective and decorative layer 29 of plastic material or the like secured to the outer surface 30 thereof.

Since the overlapped edge means 19 of the strip of material 16 is turned back upon itself by the plow means 25 before it is overlapped by the edge means 20 at the mandrel 18, it can be seen that the overlapping edge means 19 and 20 of the resulting tubular structure 21 will have the heat sealable layer 27 thereof facing each other to form the longitudinal seam 13 of the tubular structure 21.

As the longitudinal seam I13 is axially moved downwardly by the feed rollers 23 relative to the forming mandrel 18, suitable heating and pressure means 31 continuously heat seals the overlapping edges 19 and 20 together to form the longitudinal seam 13.

However, as previously set forth, it has been found that the heat sealing operation provided by the means 31 tends to use up all of the available heat sealable layer 27 at the overlapping edge means 19 and 20 forming the seam 13 so that when the subsequent seams 14 of the pouch construction are being formed, the parts of the seam 13 that overlaps the seams 14 are not effectively hermetically sealed closed.

Therefore, an additional narrow strip of heat sealable material 32 is provided and is adapted to be drawn from a free wheeling supply roll 33 thereof and be superimposed on the inside surface of the strip 16 at the edge means thereof as the strips 3-2 and 16 pass between a pair of rollers 34 and 35, one or both of the rollers 34 and '35 being effective to heat seal the strip 32 to the inside surface of the edge means 20 of the strip '16 as the strips 16 and 32 pass through the nip of the rollers 34 and 35.

Thus, it can be seen that the narrow strip of heat sealing material 32 is secured to the strip 16 before the edge means 20 and 19 of the strip 1 6 are disposed in overlapping relation so that when the edge means 19 and 20' 01f the strip 16 are disposed in overlapping relation in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, the narrow strip of heat sealable material 32 is disposed between the facing heat sealable layers 27 thereof so that when the overlapped edge means 19 and 20 are heat sealed together by the heating and pressing means 31, the narrow strip 32 of heat sealable material effectively heat seals the overlapping edges 19 and 20 of the strip 16 together while further deforming into the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 6 to provide sufficient heat sealable material for forming the subsequent top and bottom seams 14 of the pouch construction 10 in a manner hereinafter described.

When the tubular structure 21 is being formed on the mandrel 18 in the manner previously described, the end 36 of the opened tubular structure 21 passes beyond the end 22 of the forming mandrel 18 and is heat sealed closed by a pair of heating and pressing means 37 and 38 being brought together against opposite sides of the end 36 of the tubular structure 21 to form a bottom seam 14.

After the bottom seam 14 has been formed at the end 36 of the tubular structure 21, the members 37 and 38 are moved away from the tubular structure 21 and the tubular structure 21 is further advanced downwardly relative to the forming mandrel 18. At a predetermined time, a product dispensing structure 39 is actuated to dispense the desired amount of product through the forming member 18 into the tubular structure 21 disposed below the end 22 of the mandrel 18.

Thereafter, when a sufficient length of the tubular structure 21 has passed below'the members 37 and 38, the members 37 and 38 are brought together against the opposed sides of the tubular structure 21 to heat seal a transverse band across the same. With the members 37 and 38 in their heat sealing and pressing condition, a suitable cutting knife or member 40 carried by the member 37 is moved toward the member 38 to be received in a recess 41 thereof to completely sever through the transverse heat seal band of the tubular structure 21 and sever a pouch construction 10 from the remainder of the tubular structure 21.

In this manner, it can be seen that the previously formed transverse heat seal band in the tubular structure 21 has been substantially medially severed by the cutting means 40 whereby the lower portion thereof forms the top seam 14 of the severed pouch construction 10 while the upper portion thereof will form the bottom seam 14 on a subsequently formed pouch construction 10.

In addition, it can be seen that when the members 37 and 38 are brought together to heat seal a transverse band across the tubular structure 21 in the manner previously described, the product dispensed into the lower end of the tubular structure 21 is now fully encased in and hermetically sealed in the resulting pouch construction 10.

Therefore, the product filled pouch constructions 10 of this invention can be continuously and rapidly formed by the method and apparatus 15 of this invention in a simple and effective manner while assuring that the heat sealed seams 13 and 14 thereof have sufficient heat sealable material to hermetically seal the product filled chamber 12 thereof without requiring an excess amount of heat sealable material to form the entire inner surface layer of the strip of material means 16.

While specific examples have been given for the strips of materials 16 and 32 of this invention, it is to be understood that other materials can be utilized in order to practice the teachings of this invention because the narrow strip of material 32 is merely to provide an additional heat sealable means for the longitudinal seam 13 of the pouch construction 10 while the inner surface means of the strip of material 16 is to provide heat sealable means for forming the top and bottom seams 14 thereof.

While the improved pouch construction of this invention has been previously described as having the improved longitudinal seam of this invention formed at the overlapping edges of the strip of material means, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized to form other types of seams for a pouch construction or the like.

In particular, reference is now made to FIGURE 8 wherein another pouch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10A and parts thereof are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 8, the improved pouch construction 10A not only has the longitudinal seam 13A and end seams 14A formed in the manner previously described with regard to the pouch construction 10, but also the pouch construction 10A has opposed longitudinal gusset type seams 42 at the opposed side edges thereof formed in a manner hereinafter described.

In particular, reference is now made to FIGURE 9 wherein the method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 15A and parts thereof similar to the apparatus 15 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the refe-rence letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the strip of material means 16A of this invention is drawn from a free wheeling supply roll 17A onto the mandrel 18A to continuously form the tubular stock 21A except that the feed rollers 23A of the apparatus 15A are so constructed and arranged that the same cooperate with plow means 43 to form the gusset seams 42 in the tubular stock 21A as the same moves downwardly toward the end 22A of the forming mandrel 18A, the feed rollers 23A also forming a heat sealing and compressing function in a manner hereinafter described.

In addition, the apparatus 15A of this invention is adapted to apply three narrow strips of heat sealable material 32A, 32B and 32C to the strip of material means 16 in the pattern illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 by means of the heat sealing rollers 34A, 35A; and 34B,

35B and 34C, 35C (not shown) whereby the narrow strip of "heat scalable material 32A is utilized to form the longitudinal seam 13A in the manner previously described while the heat seala'ble strips 32B and 32C are respectively adapted to heat seal together the overlapping and folded parts of the gusset seams 42 of the tubular stock 21A in the manner fully illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12.

Therefore, it can be seen that the method and apparatus 15A of this invention functions in the same manner as the method and apparatus 15 of FIGURE 2 to form the pouch construction except that the method and apparatus A of FIGURE 9 forms gusset seams 42 for the resulting pouch construction 10A whereby the additional strips of heat sealable material 32B and 32C provide sufficient heat scalable material not only to heat seal the gusset seams 42 together, but also to provide sulficient heat sealable material to effect a positive hermetic seal at the resulting transverse seams 14A of the pouch construction 10A in the manner previously described for the narrow strip of heat scalable material 32 forming the seam 13 of the pouch construction 10.

Thus, it can be :seen that this invention not only provides an improved pouch construction having many unique and novel features, but also this invention provides an improved method and apparatus for forming such a pouch construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A pouch construction formed from a strip of material means having two longitudinal edges thereof disposed in overlapping relation, said strip of material means having a heat sealing layer on the inner side thereof, and a narrow strip of heat scalable material disposed between said overlapping edges and said edges being heat sealed together.

2. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposing side edges of the pouch are provided with abutting parts of said strip of material means defining a gusset seam of said pouch construction.

3. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said overlapping edges of said strip of material means comprise two longitudinal edges thereof disposed in overlapping relation to define a longitudinal seam of said pouch construction.

4. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of the overlapped edges is folded back upon itself so that said heat sealing layer thereon faces said heat sealing layer of the other overlapping edge.

5. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said strip of material means defines .a tubular structure with said seam extending between the opposed open ends thereof.

6. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein the opposed open ends of said tubular structure are sealed closed by said heat sealing layer.

7. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip of material means comprises a single strip of material.

8. A pouch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip of material means includes a lamination of metallic foil and said heat sealing layer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,997,224 8/1961 Stannard 229-53 3,084,984 4/1963 Adler 229-55 3,179,327 4/1965 Burton et .al. 22962 3,269,642 8/1966 Cvacho 229-53 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POUCH CONSTRUCTION FORMED FROM A STRIP OF MATERIAL MEANS HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION, SAID STRIP OF MATERIAL MEANS HAVING A HEAT SEALING LAYER ON THE INNER SIDE THEREOF, AND A NARROW STRIP OF HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID OVERLAPPING EDGES AND SAID EDGES BEING HEAT SEALED TOGETHER. 